Hoisting apparatus



United States Patent 3,146,016 HGISTING APPARATUS William G. Daymon,Jr., Warminster, Pa., assignor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 30, 1963, Ser. No.298,805

7 Claims. (Cl. 29467) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a lifting hoist and more particularly to auniversal type hoisting mechanism for jet engines.

Each jet engine series presently utilized by the United States Navy,such as the 1-52, the J57, the 1-65, etc. has its own compatibleseparate and distinct engine hoist which is utilized for lifting andconveying the specific engine in the series. It is readily seen thatwhen utilized aboard aircraft carriers where space is insufficient,these separate jet engine hoists present serious problems of storage. Inaddition, there are storage problems caused by the many spare partsneeded to service each engine hoist.

Engine hoists are utilized aboard aircraft carriers to transport jetengines from a storage area to a dehumidification chamber and to movethe engines from this dehumidifying chamber to the aircraft. Some of theconventional engine hoists have been found to be too large to becompatible with the dehumidifying chamber facilities aboard aircraftcarriers.

Additionally, the conventional hoisting devices fail to provide meansfor adjusting the center of gravity of the load with respect to thehoisting hook, cable or the like when the engine hoist is under load. Byreason of this deficiency, if an engine is lifted from its support andan unbalanced condition occurs, the engine must be returned to thesupport and another lifting point selected. This series of stepscontinues until the proper balance is obtained. It is obvious that thisoperation is highly inefficient in an area where speed may be essential.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal enginehoist for use with a multiple series of jet engines.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide auniversal engine hoist which is compact, has few parts, and which may beeasily operated by unskilled personnel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide auniversal engine hoist having a single pickup point which may beadjusted under load to a position directly above the center of gravityof the jet engine being hoisted.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the hoisting device of the presentinvention with a hoist rail and other parts omitted for purposes ofclarity and wherein the object, such as a jet engine, as well as thecable and hook arrangement is illustrated in phantom section.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1. V

In the drawings there is shown a hoist device generally noted atengaging and lifting an article such as a jet engine generally indicatedat 11 through a cable and hook arrangement 12, the article or jet enginehaving the center of gravity thereof indicated at 13.

Referring now to FIG. 1 and more particularly to 3,146,015 Patented Aug.25, 19 64 FIG. 2, the hoisting device 10 is shown as comprising a pairof hoisting rails 15 and 16, hoisting rail 15 being removed from FIG. 1for purposes of clarity and illustration. Each hoisting rail furtherincludes a trolley rail 17 having upper and lower bearing surfaces 17aand 1711, respectively, extending a substantial distance along themiddle portion of the hoisting rails 15 and 16 and being rigidly securedthereto such as by welding or integral formation.

A pair of bearing blocks 21) and 21 are located one at each end of thetrolley rails and are secured by bolts 22 or the like, to hoisting rails15 and 16. In order to provide for two point pickup, each of the bearingblocks 20 and 21 are formed with lugs 24 and 25, respectively, which areeither integrally formed or otherwise secured to the associated bearingblock. Rotatably supported within the bearing blocks 20 and 21 is anexternally threaded lead screw 28 having a trolley assembly generallynoted at 39 threadably engaging the same and relatively longitudinallymovable with respect thereto.

Again referring to FIG. 1 and more particularly to FIG. 2, the trolleyassembly 34) comprises U-shaped plate member 31 having triangularlyshaped side plates 32 and 33 and a base member 34. A pair of rollerbearings 35 are rotatably mounted on each of said triangular side platesadjacent the base 34 for engaging the lower bearing surfaces 171) oftrolley rails 17 Whereas the side plates 32 and 33 are formed withshoulder portions 36 for engaging the upper bearing surfaces 17a oftrolley rails 17. In order to provide a single pickup point for thetrolley assembly 35, a roller 38 is rotatably supported about pin 39which is rigidly secured to each side of side plates 32 and 33 at theuppermost portion or apex thereof.

In order to move the hoisting device 11 relative to the rolley assembly,the lead screw 28 threadably engages a floating nut it This floating nut40 is vertically movable and laterally and longitudinally restrainedagainst movement by its engagement with the side edges 41 of the slots42 formed within the interior portions of triangular side plates 32 and33. Only the forward edge portions of the slot 42 are shown by FIG. 2.

Lead screw 28 is coupled to rod 46 through coupling 47, the rod having adrive socket 48 at the end thereof for engagement with a driving tool,not shown, which in turn moves the hoisting device 10 and associatedload relative to the cable and hook arrangement 12.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 1, the rod 47 is ade quately supported inadditional bearing blocks 49 and 50.

For the purpose of engaging and lifting the various jet enginesutilized, the forward end of the hoisting device 10 is provided with aseries of hoisting links 60, 61 and 62, each particularly designed andsuited for the fittings on various jet engine series, hoisting link 61shown engaging one particular type of fore end fitting of the jet engine11. Each of the hoisting links 60, 61 and 62 comprises a pair of linkarms 63, 64 and 65, respectively, pivotally connected about an axistransverse to the longitudinal axis of the hoisting rails for thepurpose of enabling stowage of the hoisting links 60, 61 and 62 withinthe body of the hoisting rails 15 and 16, and also to insure that thehoisting link is always maintained under direct tensile forcesnotwithstanding the orientation of the hoisting device 10 and theassociated load 11. Although FIG. 1 illustrates all links in theoperative position, it is understood that the hoisting link to beutilized is removed from the stowed position whereas the remaininghoisting links are retained in the stowed position.

Referring now to hoisting link 61, for example, the link arms 64 arepivotally connected to and between the hoisting rails 15 and 16 by pivotpin 67. The other end of the link arms 64 has an articulated adapter 68pivotally retained and secured between the pair of link arms 64 by pivotpin 69. The adapter 68 is illustrated as engaging lugs on the load 11and is held fast thereto by means of a ball detent pin indicated at 70which engages the lugs and adapter 68 is a conventional manner.

It is understood, of course, that although the three hoisting links 60,61 and 62 are shown that to accommodate a greater variety of jetengines, additional hoisting links with appropriate adapters could beprovided.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the aft end engine pickup adapters aremounted on a rotatable support indicated generally at 75 on the aft endof the hoisting device 10, the rotatable support 75 comprising a pair ofbracket members 76 secured by bolts or the like at one end thereof tothe inside of the hoisting rails 15 and 16 and having the bearing block49 serving as a lateral brace at the brackets 76 connection to thehoisting rails whereas the bearing block 50 provides the pair of bracketmembers 76 lateral support at its other end by reason of its rigidconnection with the end portions of the bracket 76. At the outer endthereof the pair of brackets 76 are formed with apertures 73 forrotatably receiving and acting as bearings for an interior cylindricalmember 79. An aft end hoisting link generally noted at 80 is pivotallyand rotatably connected about the interior cylinder 79 and comprises acollar 81 which surrounds the interior cylindrical member 79 and a pairof link arms 02 which are integrally secured to the collar at one endthereof and includes an adapter 84 at the other end for engagement withthe appropriate fitting on a particular series of jet engines. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the link arms 82 and adapter 34 are shown in thestowed position with ball detent pin 85 engaging a stowage link 86.Therefore, it is readily seen that if hoisting link 80 were selected forengagement with the appropriate jet engine lug, the quick release pin 85would be removed and the hoisting link pivoted downwardly about thecylinder 78 to the operative position. It is noted that the aft endhoisting link is precluded from all movement except rotary motion aboutthe cylinder 79 by reason of the transverse abutting of the side edge 87of the collar 81 with the interior sides of the bracket member 76.

The rotatable support 75 further comprises a pair of exterior cylindersgenerally noted at 90 each telescopically fitted about the ends of theinterior cylinder 79 and having edge portions 91 abutting the outersurface of the bracket members 76. In order that the exterior cylinders90 and interior cylinder 79 are rotatable as a unit about the hearingformed by aperture 78 in the bracket 76, the exterior cylinders 90 andinterior cylinder 79 are rigidly secured to each other as by bolts 92 orthe like.

In view of the similarity of each of the exterior cylinders 90 only onewill herein be described. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, anexternal boss member 94 is provided on the exterior surface of the outeror exterior cylindrical member 90 and has pivotally connected thereto anaft end hoisting link generally indicated at 95. Line 95 comprises alink arm 96 pivotally connected to the boss member 94 through pivot pin97 and includes an adapter 98 also pivotally connected by means of pivotpin 99 through the link arm 96, the adapter being suitably designed forengagement with the lifting lug on a particular jet engine series. Theaft end hoisting link 95 is illustrated in the stowed position held byquick release ball detent pin 100 in a retaining lug 101 also providedon cylindrical member 90. It is seen that the exterior cylinder 90 maybe rotated 180 to place the hoisting link 95 in a lowermost positionwhereupon it may be released for operation in the direction of arrowsshown.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, a boss member 104 formed oncylindrical member 90 has an additional aft end hoisting link generallynoted at 105 pivotally secured thereto and comprises a link arm 106being pivotally connected to the boss 104 by pivot pin 107 and furtherincluding an adapter 108 of such design to engage for a hoisting lug ona particular series of jet engines for hoisting the same, the adapter108 being additionally pivotedly connected to the link arm 96 by pivotpin 109. A stowage lug 110 is provided on the exterior surface of theexterior cylinder for retaining the hoisting link 105 in the stowageposition by use of quick release ball detent pin 111. It is seen thatthe bosses 94 and 104 are 180 remote from each other and it isunderstood that additional hoisting links may be provided about theexterior cylinder 90 at various angular positions in order to engagelugs provided on still different jet engines series.

In operation, if hoisting link has the appropriate adapter thereon forlifting the load, hoisting link is pivoted in the direction of the arrowshown to the stowage position and is locked in place on the stowage lug110. Then exterior cylinder 90 is rotated to provide hoisting link 95 inthe lowermost position whereupon its looking pin is removed and link 95permitted to pivot to the operative position.

Referring to FIG. 1, when the single pickup point is utilized, as isillustrated by the cable and hook arrangement 12 engaging the pin 39,the pickup point should be located at the approximate center of gravitylocation of the engine configuration being lifted. By reason of thepresent invention, when the engine is lifted and is free of itssupports, the engine can be leveled by adjusting the pickup point overthe exact center of gravity of the engine by properly manipulating thedrive socket 48, which in turn causes lead screw 28 to translate withrespect to nut 40 to thereby position the hoisting device 10 and theassociated load 11 secured thereto.

Obviously many modification and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A universal hoisting apparatus for jet engines or the like,comprising:

a pair of spaced, parallel and longitudinally extending channel membershaving their outer webs in interfacing relationship,

said interfacing webs having longitudinally extending rail means formedthereon intermediate the length of said channel members, said rail meansincluding upper and lower bearing faces,

bearing means adjacent the ends of said rail members interconnected tosaid channel members,

a longitudinally extending lead screw rotatably secured in said bearingmeans and having one end extending beyond said means,

drive socket means extending from beyond the confines of said channelmeans secured to said extending end of said lead screw for providing adrive connection for said lead screw,

a U-shaped trolley assembly having triangular side faces interposedbetween said interfacing web members intermediate said bearing blocks,said side faces having shoulder means for engaging said upper hearingfaces of said rail means,

roller bearing means rotatably secured to said trolley means engagingsaid lower bearing faces of said rail means,

said U-shaped trolley assembly having a vertical slot formed in theinterfacing surfaces of said triangular plates,

fastening means vertically slidable and horizontally restrained by saidslots threadably engaging said lead screw,

and roller means rotatably secured to said triangular plates forengagement with a hoisting means whereby said hoisting apparatus may bemoved relative to the hoisting means when said hoisting apparatus isunder load.

2. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of types ofloads, each type having separate and distinct hoisting lug arrangementsformed thereon, comprising:

a longitudinally extending structural support member having meanspivotally connected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on theload,

bracket means secured to said structural support member rotatablyhousing an interior cylindrical member a collar journaled about saidinterior cylindrical member having means secured thereto for engagingthe hoisting lugs on the load,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical mtember and being rigidly secured tosaid interior member for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having adapter means pivotallyconnected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on the load, andbeing pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

and said external cylindrical members having stowage lugs extending fromthe outer surface thereof for engaging said adapter means to retain thesame in the stowed position.

3. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of types ofloads, each type having separate and distinct hoisting lug arrangementsformed thereon, comprising:

a longitudinally extending structural support member having meanspivotally connected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on theload,

bracket means secured to said structural support member having aperturestherein forming a bearing, said apertures being in coaxial alignment andtransverse to the longitudinal axis of said channel members,

an interiorcylindrical member rotatably journaled within said bearings,

a collar rotatable about said interior cylindrical member having meanssecured thereto for engaging the hoisting lugs on the load,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical member and being rigidly secured tosaid interior member for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having adapter means pivotallyconnected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on the load, andbeing pivotal between a stowed and operative po sition,

and said external cylindrical members having stowage lugs extending fromthe outer surface thereof for engaging said adapter means to retain thesame in the stowed position.

4. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of types ofloads, each type having separate and distinct hoisting lug arrangementsformed thereon, comprising:

a pair of longitudinally extending structural beam members having aplurality of link arms pivotally connected at one end thereof andmovable between a stowed and an operative position,

lug adapter means pivotally secured to said link arms for engagementwith the hoisting lugs on the load,

bracket means secured to said structural beam member having aperturestherein forming a bearing, said apertures being in coaxial alignment andtransverse to the longitudinal axis of said channel members,

an interior cylindrical member rotatably journaled within said bearing,

a collar journaled about and rotatable about said interior cylindricalmember intermediate said bracket means, said collar having a pair oflink arms integrally secured thereto at one end thereof and having loadlug adapter means pivotally connected at the other end thereof, saidlink arms being pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical member and being rigidly secured tosaid interior member for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having external lugs pivotallyconnecting a link arm thereto, said link arm having a load lug adapterpivotally secured thereto, said link arms being pivotal between a stowedand operative position,

said external cylindrical member having stowage lugs extending from theouter surface thereof for engaging said load lug adapter means when saidlink arm is in the stowed position.

5'. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of series ofjet engines, each series having a separate and distinct hoisting lugarrangement formed thereon comprising:

a pair of parallel, laterally spaced channel members having interfacingoutside webs,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced link arms pivotally connected atone end thereof between and adjacent one end of said channel members andmovable between a stowed and an operative position, each of said linkarms having lug adapter means pivotally secured at the other end of saidlink arms, each of said adapters being constructed for engagement withthe lugs on a selected jet engine series,

a pair of brackets each secured at one end to the interfacing webs ofsaid channel member at the other end of said channel members andextending outwardly beyond the confines thereof,

said brackets having apertures therein forming a bearing at the otherends thereof, said apertures being in coaxial alignment and transverseto the longitudinal axis of said channel members,

an interior cylindrical member rotatably journaled within said bearings,

a collar journaled about and rotatable about said interior cylindricalmember intermediate said brackets, said collar having a pair of parallellaterally spaced link arms integrally secured thereto at one end thereofand having engine lug adapter means pivotally connected at the other endthereof,

said link arm being pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical member and having one end thereofabutting said brackets and being rigidly secured to said interiorcylinder for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having external lugs pivotallyconnecting a link arm thereto, each of said link arms having an enginelug adapter pivotally secured at the other end thereof, said link armsbeing pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

said external cylindrical members having stowage lugs extending from theouter surfaces thereof for engaging said adapter means when said linkarm is in the stowed position.

6. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of types ofloads, each type having separate and distinct hoisting arrangementsformed thereon, comprising:

a longitudinally extending structural support member, said member havinglongitudinally extending rail means formed thereon, said rail meansincluding upper and lower bearing faces,

bearing means interconnected to said support member,

a longitudinally extending screw means rotatably secured in saidbearings means, and having a drive means at one end for receiving anexternal drive source for rotating said screw means,

a trolley assembly operatively associated with said support memberhaving shoulder means thereon for engaging said upper bearing faces ofsaid rail means and roller bearings means thereon for engaging saidlower bearing faces of said rail means,

said trolley assembly having vertically slidable and horizontallyrestrained fastening means therein for threadably engaging said screwmeans,

pickup means secured to said trolley assembly for engagement with ahoisting means whereby said hoisting apparatus may be moved relative tothe hoisting means when said hoisting apparatus is under load,

said longitudinally extending structural support member having meanspivotally connected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on theload,

bracket means secured to said structural support member having aperturestherein forming a bearing, said apertures being in coaxial alignment andtransverse to the longitudinal axis of said channel members,

an interior cylindrical member rotatably journaled within said bearing,

a collar rotatable about said interior cylindrical member having meanssecured thereto for engaging the hoisting lugs on the load,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical member and being rigidly secured tosaid interior member for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having adapter means pivotallyconnected thereto for engagement with the hoisting lugs on the load, andbeing pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

and said external cylindrical members having stowage lugs extending fromthe outer surface thereof for engaging said adapter means to retain thesame in the stowed position.

7. A universal hoisting device for hoisting a plurality of types ofloads, each type having separate and distinct hoisting lug arrangementsformed thereon, comprising:

a pair of longitudinally extending structural beam members, said beammembers having longitudinally extending rail means formed thereon, saidrail means including upper and lower bearing faces,

bearing means interconnected to said beam members,

a longitudinally extending screw means rotatably secured in said bearingmeans, and having a drive means at one end for receiving an externaldrive source for rotating said screw means,

a trolley assembly interposed between said beam members having shouldermeans thereon for engaging said upper bearing faces of said rail meansand roller 8 bearing means for engaging said lower bearing faces of saidrail means,

said trolley assembly having vertically slidable and horizontallyrestrained fastening means therein for threadbly engaging said screwmeans,

pickup means secured to said trolley assembly for engagement with ahoisting means whereby said hoisting apparatus may be moved relative tothe hoisting means when said hoisting apparatus is under load,

said pair of longitudinally extending structural beam members having aplurality of link arms pivotally connected at one end thereof andmovable between a stowed and an operative position,

lug adapter means pivotally secured to said link arms for engagementwith the hoisting lugs on the load,

bracket means secured to said structural beam member having aperturestherein forming a bearing, said apertures being in coaxial alignment andtransverse to the longitudinal axis of said channel members,

an interior cylindrical member rotatably journaled within said bearing,

a collar journaled about and rotatable about said interior cylindricalmember intermediate said bracket means, said collar having a pair oflink arms integrally secured thereto at one end thereof and having loadlug adapter means pivotally connected at the other end thereof, saidlink arms being pivotal between a stowed and operative position,

a pair of external cylindrical members each telescopically surroundingan end of said interior cylindrical member and being rigidly secured tosaid interior member for rotation therewith,

each of said exterior cylindrical members having external lugs pivotallyconnecting a link arm thereto, said link arm having a load lug adapterpivotally secured thereto, said link arms being pivotal between a stowedand operative position,

said external cylindrical member having stowage lugs extending from theouter surface thereof for engaging said load lug adapter means when saidlink arm is in the stowed position.

Longgood Nov. 22, 1927 Austin Dec. 10, 1946

1. A UNIVERSAL HOISTING APPARATUS FOR JET ENGINES OR THE LIKE,COMPRISING: A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGCHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING THEIR OUTER WEBS IN INTERFACING RELATIONSHIP,SAID INTERFACING WEBS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RAIL MEANS FORMEDTHEREON INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS, SAID RAIL MEANSINCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER BEARING FACES, BEARING MEANS ADJACENT THE ENDSOF SAID RAIL MEMBERS INTERCONNECTED TO SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS, ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING LEAD SCREW ROTATABLY SECURED IN SAID BEARINGMEANS AND HAVING ONE END EXTENDING BEYOND SAID MEANS, DRIVE SOCKET MEANSEXTENDING FROM BEYOND THE CONFINES OF SAID CHANNEL MEANS SECURED TO SAIDEXTENDING END OF SAID LEAD SCREW FOR PROVIDING A DRIVE CONNECTION FORSAID LEAD SCREW, A U-SHAPED TROLLEY ASSEMBLY HAVING TRIANGULAR SIDEFACES INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID INTERFACING WEB MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE SAIDBEARING BLOCKS, SAID SIDE FACES HAVING SHOULDER MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAIDUPPER BEARING FACES OF SAID RAIL MEANS,